| PAGE LABEL EVEN | DOUBLE T Vol. 117HE No. 43 JOURNALWednesday, March 3, 2021 $100 TROUBLE T J Padgett’s Bobcats SMITHSONIAN IN OCONEE: Traveling exhibit visiting Westminster Depot. B1 led by dynamic AHEAD OF SCHEDULE: Biden vows enough vaccine for all US adults by end of May. D1 duo on court. C1 SOUTH CAROLINA State set to enter next COVID-19 vax phase workers can sign up for progress in vaccinat- A pharmacist Tentative dates, eligibility for appointments. The group ing people in group 1a, prepares to vac- includes about 2.7 mil- front-line health care cinate a resident lion South Carolinians. workers and those aged of Monarch Villa next phases also announced “South Carolina 65 and over, we are now memory care facil- remains focused on ready to move to our ity with the Pfizer protecting the lives and next phase. Our state’s COVID-19 vac- BY RILEY MORNINGSTAR aged 55 and up can begin health of South Carolin- vaccine plan prioritizes cine last month THE JOURNAL scheduling vaccine ap- ians from COVID-19,” those with greatest risk, in Stockbridge, pointments in the state. S.C. Department of while ensuring equal Ga. More South SENECA — South Other front-line workers Health and Environ- access to the vaccine for Carolina residents Carolina is poised to are also included in this mental Control director every South Carolinian will be eligible enter its next COVID-19 phase, meaning school Edward Simmer said in aged 16 and over.” to receive their vaccination stage begin- staff, daycare workers, a news release. “With Those with increased vaccine beginning ning next week. manufacturing work- the significant increase on Monday. On Monday, anyone ers and grocery store in vaccine supply and SEE VAX, PAGE A3 ASSOCIATED PRESS CLEMSON WESTMINSTER County backs off ‘We need some help’ magistrate plans, set to sell facility BY RILEY MORNINGSTAR backed off the approval THE JOURNAL of an $85,017 action item at Tuesday night’s meet- WALHALLA — Plans ing that included the to construct a new demolition of the former Oconee County mag- Free Gospel Holiness istrate’s building have Church in Westminster. been scrapped. County council SEE MAGISTRATE, PAGE A5 WALHALLA Walhalla enacts moratorium BY LAUREN PIERCE issuance of permits, THE JOURNAL business licenses and land development appli- PHOTOS BY LAUREN PIERCE | THE JOURNAL WALHALLA — Wal- cations. Bartender Brandyn Lee mixes a drink at 356 Sushi and Cocktail Bar in downtown Clemson on Monday night. Several halla City Council During the morato- downtown business owners are concerned they are losing customers because of the city’s COVID-19 restrictions. unanimously approved rium, council will re- an ordinance Tues- view the city’s current day night enacting a zoning ordinance to six-month moratorium Clemson plans on the acceptance and SEE MORATORIUM, PAGE A3 special meeting Friday to discuss SENECA virus restrictions City officials talk BY GREG OLIVER THE JOURNAL CLEMSON — Clemson City Coun- diversity,change cil put off any action on changing the city’s COVID-19 emergency ordi- A group of customers sits for drinks at Charleston Sports Pub in downtown nance until Friday after more than Clemson on Monday. One of the biggest complaints for downtown business an hour of discussion on Monday owners about the city’s COVID-19 restrictions is a requirement that customers at NAACP event night. be seated while eating or drinking. Council’s decision followed pleas BY NORM CANNADA racial backgrounds in for help by several downtown owners is that not allowing patrons on the COVID-19 task force that met THE JOURNAL the community. business owners, saying their busi- to stand while eating and drinking twice recently to discuss the mask Mayor Dan Alexan- nesses are losing predominantly is driving customers away from ordinance and whether it could be SENECA — Seneca der, Councilman W.C. college-age customers to neighbor- town. relaxed. officials told Oconee Honeycutt Jr., city ing counties and states because of “The standard we are held to Farish said the city needs to find County NAACP mem- administrator Scott the city’s stringent policy they say down here is higher than the state, “some middle ground” so busi- bers over the weekend Moulder and Police unfairly targets their establish- and it’s putting us at a disadvan- nesses can “try to get to the black they are working to lis- Chief Casey Bowling ments. tage,” said Tiger Town Tavern own- ten and improve oppor- The chief bone of contention by er Cameron Farish, who also served SEE RESTRICTIONS, PAGE A3 tunities for people of all SEE DIVERSITY, PAGE A5 | INSIDE | | INFO | WILLIE SAYS: ARRESTS A6 COMICS B3 SPORTS C1 DELIVERY (864) 882-2375 CALENDAR A2 ENTERTAINMENT B4 STOCK REPORTS D2 CLASSIFIEDS (864) 882-2375 CLASSIFIEDS D2 LIFESTYLE B1 TELL WILLIE B5 ADVERTISING (864) 973-6305 Please, nothing COLUMNISTS B3 OPINION A4 WORLD | NATION D1 doesn’t ‘add up.’ B5 Seasonal Lake Views & Boat Slip 5 BR, 3 BA, 2 Car Garage Finished Terrace Lvl w Wet Bar Loaded with Outdoor Entertaining Areas Located in The Summit, Amenity Rich melaniefink.com | 303 Rochester Hwy, Seneca | 864-888-3211 Priced at $735,000 | PAGE LABEL EVEN | A2 THE JOURNAL WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3, 2021 Free COVID-19 tests available this week THE JOURNAL STAFF The testing opportunities ed in the Contact Details people. Oconee County have been sponsored by section that can be found had a confirmed total of SENECA — Health Tour Health, according to at scdhec. gov/covid19/ 7,964 COVID-19 cases as of officials will be in Oconee DHEC. In Pickens County, find-covid-19-testing-loca- Tuesday. County this week to offer free testing will also be tion. DHEC said results The county’s incidence Tuesday’s COVID-19 free COVID-19 testing. available at the Pickens can be expected within 72 rate was at 10,012 cases South Carolina De- Health Department at hours and that testing is per 100,000 residents on numbers at a glance partment of Health and 200 McDaniel Ave. from 9 free and open to anyone. Tuesday, keeping Oconee Confirmed Confirmed Percent Environmental Control a.m.-4 p.m. today through Nearly every county in the top 10 among South cases deaths positive (DHEC) officials will be at Friday. in South Carolina ranks Carolina’s 46 counties. the Seneca Health Depart- To preregister for test- in the “high” category Pickens County continues South Carolina 496 13 4.6% ment at 609 N. Townville ing, DHEC recommends for two-week cumulative to place first in the rate Oconee County 3 0 1.9%* St. from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. those interested use incidence rate of cases per 100,000 residents, at Pickens County 11 0 2.7%* today through Friday. site-specific links provid- reported per 100,000 12,153. * Seven-day moving average Cumulative cases SDPC reports nine South Carolina: 445,523 cases, 7,606 deaths new COVID-19 cases Oconee County: 7,964 cases, 118 deaths WALHALLA — The Pickens County seeking School District of Oconee Pickens County: 15,420 cases, 234 deaths County said Tuesday that nine new positive SOURCE: SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL COVID-19 cases were con- to increase teacher salaries firmed across the district on Monday. Two Walhalla Middle BY GREG OLIVER level. … I think it’s been pretty well | CALENDAR | students, a Westminster THE JOURNAL received by our folks. Everyone likes Elementary student, a Fair- to be appreciated, and this is a way to THURSDAY Oak Elementary student, EASLEY — The Pickens County show appreciation.” OCPL FRIENDS of the Library book sale in the Walhalla Library a Seneca High student and School Board has made increasing Board chairman Shannon Haskett basement, 501 W. South Broad St., Walhalla, by appointment only an Orchard Park Elemen- teacher pay one of its top priorities said the step taken Monday night is the at 12:30, 1:30 or 2:30 p.m. by emailing [email protected]. tary student all tested heading into the next budget cycle. first of several the board hopes to make Masks and social distancing required. positive. An employee each The priorities include raising the sal- in the coming months to recruit and from Seneca Middle, West- ary of first-year teachers to $40,000 and keep “great” employees and teachers. MARCH 11 minster Elementary and adjusting the teacher pay scale to honor With the possible increase of start- WIDOWED PERSONS Moving Forward, Oconee County will meet Walhalla Elementary also long-term teachers. ing pay for teachers with a bachelor’s for lunch at 1 p.m. at Los Amigos in Seneca. (864) 985-0542 tested positive. But last week, the board took imme- degree and zero years of experience diate action by unanimously voting to from its current $37,723 to $40,000, the MARCH 20 Two beds open at double the bonus for unused leave days board is also looking at the back end of FLEET RESERVE Association, Branch 15, will meet at 8:30 a.m. for Oconee Memorial ICU for employees — from $50 to $100 — for the pay scale, which currently caps at breakfast followed by a business meeting at 9 a.m. at Chicopee each day exceeding 135 unused days. 24 years of experience. United Methodist Church, 403 S. Catherine St., Walhalla. Open to late Monday night The board approved first reading of While the new fiscal year budget will all former and active U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine and U.S. Coast Guard SENECA — There were the policy change and then voted to go into effect July 1 after approval this personnel.